News
WSJ | Bernanke to Speak Out More to Explain, Bolster Policies
Fed policies have drawn increasing fire in recent years from lawmakers, foreign policy makers and others. Issues include the central bank's interest-rate policies during the housing bubble, its reaction to the financial crisis and its current easy-money policies. Mr. Bernanke has responded by stepping up his public opportunities to counter the criticism.
The Economist | Money and politics
It was supposed to the European summit when the crisis of the euro would finally be resolved with a comprehensive set of responses. The economic-governance reforms were supposed to be a “game changer”, in the view of José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission. It was not to be. The game has been postponed to June.
The Economist | Another year of living dangerously
Turmoil in the Middle East and disaster in Japan arouse economic angst. Central banks must not make it worse.
Econ Comments
Barron's | Evolution of Thinking About the Dollar
Utah, North Carolina legislators vote against Fed, cheap money, and in favor of gold.
Minyanville | Catastrophic Implications of US and Japan Money Pumping and Debt
Also discussed in today's podcast: Motrgage backed securities, the insolvent social security disability fund, Middle East instability, and more.
Blogs
Cat@Liberty | Federal Reserve to Hold Press Conferences
While I generally haven't been a fan of Bernanke's policy decisions, many of his "process" decisions, such as holding these press conferences, have been moves in the right direction of greater Fed communication with the public.
WSJ: Real Time Economics | A Timeline of Fed Communications
The Fed announced today that Chairman Ben Bernanke will hold press briefings four times a year, the latest move by the central bank to bolster communications with the public. Below is a timeline of previous efforts to improve transparency:
